Blend: Sauvignon Blanc
From: Sancerre, Loire, France
Taste: This textbook Sancerre Blanc is packed with bright apple and citrus. It is fresh, but not green, and ripe, but not tropical. It is crisp and has a classic Sancerre ‘attack’ and a long, refreshing mineral finish. Gosh, it feels like it’s been a while since we’ve found such a great example of Sancerre!
Pairing: How about an amazing weeknight pasta dish that sounds way more difficult than it is and is perfect for dazzling guests?! If you’re a seafood lover, try this Spicy Crab Linguine with Mustard, Crème Fraîche and Herbs by David Tanis. It’ll yield 4-6 servings and take about 20 minutes to make once you source the right ingredients.
About. For 11 generations, the Prieur family has been wine-growers in the village of Verdigny, Sancerre. The present proprietors and winemakers are Luc Prieur and his father Didier (who himself took over from his father Paul in 1973). Three generations of Prieurs receive clients and visitors who have been coming to the Domaine for generations. Luc joined the team in 2010, after completing his oenology studies in Beaune and stages in Burgundy and in England. For the 2010 vintage, the Domaine acquired a new pneumatic press and renovated and expanded their cellars. As a result, the Prieurs can totally eliminate exposure to air at pressing time in order to capture all of the vivid aromas and flavors of ripe fruit and minerals of their Sauvignon Blanc grapes. The hallmark of the Prieur Sancerre Blanc is its ideal combination of verve, balance and length. They are practicing organic and have experimented with biodynamics.
Domaine Paul Prieur’s Sancerre Blanc comes from 13.5 hectares of Sauvignon Blanc grapes grown on several parcels of south-facing, sloping vineyards, mainly in the commune of Verdigny. Winemakers Luc and Didier Prieur assemble the cuvees, so the blend of the different origins enhances the wine’s richness and complexity.
About 70% of the grapes come from vines planted on two types of limestone soil: the thin, very stony, pure limestone“caillottes” soil contributes an intense bouquet and a vivid fruitiness with pleasant mineral notes, while the “terres-blanches” terroir has mix of limestone and clay, providing considerable body and structure, with great ripeness.
The remaining 30% of the fruit comes from a silex soil in the commune of Thauvenay, adding its unique smoky “gun-flint” aromatic quality to the wine. The Prieurs aim to attain a perfect balance between ripeness and fruity acidity. They harvest by hand, ferment slowly at low temperature using only native yeast, and age their wine in stainless steel tanks on its fine lees to preserve all of the natural fruit and aromas.
